IN THE HIGH COURT OF PUNJAB AND HARYANA AT CHANDIGARH ****

Date of Decision: 31.10.2025 RENU ...Petitioner Vs.

STATE OF HARYANA AND ORS. …Respondents CORAM:- HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE JAGMOHAN BANSAL Present:- Mr. Naveen Jhanjolia, Advocate for the petitioner Mr. Ashok Kumar Khubbar, Addl. A.G, Haryana ***

JAGMOHAN BANSAL, J. (ORAL)

1. The petitioner through instant petition under Article 226/227 of the Constitution of India is seeking setting aside of order dated 23.10.2024 whereby respondent has rejected her candidature for the post of Female Constable against advertisement No.8/2015.

2. The petitioner pursuant to advertisement No.8/2015 applied for the post of Constable (Female). She is possessing Master’s Degree in Public Administration and belongs to BCA Category. She cleared written test and participated in physical measurement test. Her height was measured as 166.8 cm. She was awarded 12 marks for height and was not selected due to higher cut-off. She scored 47.25 marks whereas last selected candidates in her category scored 47.75 marks.

3. The petitioner pursuant to advertisement No.4/2020 applied for the post of Constable (Female). She cleared written test and her height was measure on 18.10.2021. Her height was found 167.3 cm. She claims that her height against advertisement No.8/2015 was wrongly measured. She was entitled to 13 marks whereas was awarded 12 marks. She filed CWP-1161-2022 before this Court which was disposed of vide order dated 04.12.2023 with a direction to consider her claim. The respondent did not comply with orders of this Court and she filed COCP- 881-2024 which was disposed of because respondent complied with orders of this Court by passing impugned order dated 23.10.2024 whereby representation of the petitioner has been rejected.

4. Learned counsel for the petitioner submits that respondent wrongly measured height of the petitioner at the time of physical test conducted in 2016. The report of 2021 vindicates stand of the petitioner. The respondent has passed a detailed and speaking order with respect to claim of the petitioner. Relevant extracts of impugned order dated

23.10.2024 read as:-

“Further the petitioner prayed that there is difference in height recorded by Commission in different recruitment, the Commission for better transparency, efficiency and satisfaction of the candidates called the petitioners and other similarly situated candidates for PMT. The difference occurred in height of candidates during first and second PMT is basically due to standing Posture of a candidate while getting his/her height measured. Further, it is pertinent to mention here that there are so many other reasons of variation in height of same candidate at different intervals of time like different Standing/Static positions as shown in picture below:- The details of these reasons is as under:

Sway Lumbar Thoracic Forward Good Back Lordosis Kyphosis Head Posture Further, if a candidate has done exercise or stretching before getting his/her height measured then it leads to impact on height result. Due to compressed spine, height of some candidates shows variation in height at different intervals of time.

For example, sitting in a chair all day results in tight hamstrings in the back of the thigh. That can make it harder to extend your leg or straighten your knee all the way.

Further, it is pertinent to mention here that at the time of Physical Measurement of a candidate alongwith the representatives of Commission, Trained coaches from Government Departments and various Doctors from Civil Hospital are present and in presence of these members only height of candidate is measured and then the said PMT slip of candidate is also signed by the representatives of Commission, Coach and Civil Doctor. Further, the PMT of candidates is conducted openly in presence of all candidates and if any cheating on part of Commission in height recording is committed then the other candidates who are present then and there must have objected but there